Criminal Defense

The fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that accompanies an arrest or police investigation are overwhelming. Knowing that the government is focusing its vast investigative power and resources to prosecute you can stir up these emotions in anyone. You worry about losing your freedom, your family, your friends, your job, and everything you have worked for.

The government has the power of the police and prosecuting attorneys when building a case against you. You need a lawyer who will aggressively fight for you to ensure your rights are protected. To properly prepare your defense, please contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation. The faster we get involved in the case, the faster we can help you.

During this critical time, an experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in the world. Below are some of the areas in which we most commonly represent clients.

DUI/DWI/Driving While Impaired or Intoxicated/Other Traffic Offenses

Traffic citations are criminal in nature. If you are charged with a traffic violation, an experienced criminal defense attorney can assist you in multiple ways. Typical serious traffic offenses include matters such as driving under the influence, driving while impaired, driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license, and driving without a license. These charges can result in possible jail sentences, probation, significant fines, and potential points on your driver’s license.

Ashcraft & Gerel thoroughly reviews each case and closely examines all factors involved, such as reviewing the legality of the initial traffic stop, examining the legitimacy of breath, blood, or urine tests, verifying that law enforcement personnel complied with the law, and ensuring that your rights were not violated at any point during the process.

While serious traffic offenses can include harsh criminal penalties, individuals with these types of charges also face potential administrative consequences ranging from points on your driving record to possible suspensions or revocations of your driver’s license. For many of us, a valid driver’s license is crucial to our everyday lives. Whether you drive for a living, commute to work, or need to transport your family, the prospect of losing your driving privilege can be life altering.

Our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients at hearings before the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and the Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. We understand how serious the consequences for these offenses can be, and we treat each of these cases with the special care it requires. If you or someone you know has been arrested or charged with a serious traffic offense, contact Ashcraft & Gerel immediately for a free consultation with one of our criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanors

While most people think of misdemeanor charges as minor ones, the reality is that individuals facing these types of offenses are often confronted with serious consequences, including possible incarceration, career-ending criminal records, and allegations that often affect personal relationships. Misdemeanors are serious offenses and must be treated as such. Although each state categorizes its crimes differently, most jurisdictions consider the following types of offenses to be misdemeanors:

Drug possession

Domestic battery

Petty theft

Shoplifting

Simple assault

Some firearms charges

Trespassing

If you are facing misdemeanor charges, the lawyers at Ashcraft & Gerel can help explain the charges and procedures, review the facts of the case, examine the government’s evidence, interview potential witnesses, and aggressively defend you and your rights throughout the case. Contact us immediately for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

Felonies

Felony charges are the most serious crimes in the criminal justice system, and, for that reason, trials on these charges are almost always heard by a jury. Punishments for these types of crimes often include lengthy prison sentences, strict supervision (i.e., parole, probation) upon release, and life-altering consequences, such as the loss of voting rights, firearm ownership, and, in some instances, a prohibition on receiving certain government benefits. The police and the government typically spare no expense to prosecute these offenses and often convene grand juries to issue indictments formalizing the charges.

In Maryland and the Washington, D.C. the list of felonies includes:

Possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute

Drug distribution or trafficking

Aggravated assault

Firearm charges

Grand theft larceny

Fraud

Robbery

Burglary

Rape and other sex offenses

Murder

If you or someone you know has been arrested, charged, or is being investigated on felony charges, it is essential that you consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately. Lawyers can provide vital assistance in the early phases of the case. Our criminal defense attorneys have experience representing clients during law enforcement’s initial investigation, and our early involvement can help ensure your constitutional rights are not violated.

If necessary, we can make arrangements for clients to turn themselves in to avoid law enforcement executing dangerous, embarrassing, and destructive arrest warrants. We also represent clients during initial bond hearings to help them get out of jail while awaiting trial. Our early involvement sometimes enables our lawyers to investigate the scene of the alleged crime, or to interview witnesses at the same time as law enforcement, to ensure that evidence and memories are not influenced, altered, destroyed or lost over time. In some instances, due to the serious nature of these crimes, clients can benefit from having experts review specific aspects of a case, such as DNA analysis, ballistics, fingerprint evidence, or chemical analysis.

Ashcraft & Gerel has relationships with established networks of experts who can work with us to build your defense. If you or someone you know is facing felony charges, please contact us immediately for a free consultation with one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys.

Contact Ashcraft & Gerel If You Are Under Investigation of Charged with a Crime*

If you have been charged with a crime, or if you are currently under investigation for an alleged criminal violation, you should immediately seek the services of an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

Ashcraft & Gerel is dedicated to providing the highest quality of representation to individuals charged with criminal offenses in Maryland and the District of Columbia. We have extensive experience successfully representing clients in a wide variety of cases, including DUI citations and other traffic tickets, misdemeanor charges, and felony charges. We zealously advocate for our clients through every step of the criminal justice system to ensure that they are in the best position to be successful in their defense. Contact us today.

*Our criminal defense representation is, at this time, limited to cases pending in Maryland and the District of Columbia